The Joy of Gaming Podcast

Episode Fifteen - The Callisto Protocol, Telling Lies and God of War: Ragnarök (Late-Game Impressions)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Fifteen
The Callisto Protocol, Telling Lies and God of War: Ragnarök (Late-Game Impressions)

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss some of the biggest releases of the season, including one of the most anticipated new games of the year, The Callisto Protocol. As the early reviews have indicated, this is not a perfect game, but Rich has rolled credits and we have a discussion about what this game actually is - and what it’s not. Quick Spoiler: It’s not Dead Space. We also discuss the much lauded FMV title Telling Lies from Sam Barlog, and offer our late-game impressions of God of War: Ragnarök in advance of our final review discussion next year. And as always, we run down the latest releases on Game Pass and PS Plus, discuss what’s new in limited-edition physical media, and cover recent gaming news from around the industry. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

05:00 - Recent Gaming News

• James Gunn and Peter Safran take over DC Cinematic Universe
• The Ziff Davis layoffs Impact IGN
• Microsoft Raising Prices on First-Party Titles
• Microsoft vows to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo for 10 Years
• The FTC is suing Microsoft over Activision Merger

30:11 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical

44:47 - Rich’s Digital Picks (Game Pass and PS Plus)

1:02:38 - What We’ve Been Playing

• The Callisto Protocol
• Telling Lies
• God of War: Ragnarök (Late-Game Impressions)

1:57:50 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

 

Episode Fourteen - The Game Awards 2022 Post-Show: Reactions to the Winners, World Premieres and Announcements

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Fourteen
The Game Awards 2022 Post-Show: Reactions to the Winners, World Premieres and Announcements

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we recap gaming’s biggest night - The Game Awards 2022 - with a complete post-show wrap-up. We start by talking about our thoughts on the event in general, including the various game developers, actors, musicians and other awesome people from around the video games industry that were a part of the show. Next, we discuss the winners of the 25 biggest awards, and see who won our predictions competition from last week. And finally, we walk through the unbelievable list of world premieres and announcements we experienced throughout the night, including Judas, Hades 2, Death Stranding 2, Armored Core VI, Bayonetta Origins, Earthblade, and so many more. 

 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction / Overall Thoughts on The Game Awards 2022

16:50 - The Winners in Each Major Category (and who won our predictions competition?)

55:43 - World Premieres and Announcements 

02:01:33 - BONUS: Every Game Releasing in 2023 (that we know of)

02:08:48 - Closing / Social Media

 

Episode Thirteen - The Game Awards 2022 Preview: Predicting the Winners and World Premieres

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Thirteen
The Game Awards 2022 Preview - Predicting the Winners and World Premieres

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss gaming’s biggest night - The Game Awards 2022 - previewing each of the event’s major categories and nominees, and making predictions on who will win, who will lose, and what big surprises and upsets could be in store. We also talk about some of the notable snubs among this year’s categories, and lay odds on which big announcements and “World Premieres” we might see throughout the night. After all, Geoff Keighley did say that he “hasn’t felt this good about a show in a while” so expectations are high, and we’ll be back on our next episode to discuss everything that happens. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

03:14 - Quick Hits - The Callisto Protocol and Analog Pocket

25:14 - The Game Awards 2022 Preview

• Categories, Nominees and Predictions
  
  
  • GOTY
  • Best Game Direction
  • Best Narrative
  • Best Art Direction
  • Best Score/Music
  • Best Audio Design
  • Best Performance
  • Games for Impact
  • Best Ongoing Game
  • Best Indie Game
  • Best Debut Indie Game
  • Best Mobile Game
  • Best Community Support
  • Best VR/AR Game
  • Innovation in Accessibility
  • Best Action Game
  • Best Action/Adventure Game
  • Best RPG
  • Best Fighting Game
  • Best Family Game
  • Best Sports/Racing Game
  • Best SIM/Strategy Game
  • Best Multiplayer Game
  • Best Adaptation
  • Most Anticipated Game
    
    
• Potential Announcements and “World Premieres”

02:13:21 - Closing Thoughts / What’s Next on the Podcast

Episode Twelve - God of War Franchise Retrospective (2005-2022)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twelve
God of War Franchise Retrospective (2005-2022)

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we continue our God of War: Ragnarok Celebration, this time taking a trip down memory lane with Kratos as he murdered his way through hordes of Greek and Norse Gods, and somehow found his way into our hearts. From its introduction in 2005 with God of War on PS2, through three console generations (including PSP, PS3 and PS4), and up to the present day with God of War: Ragnarök on PS5, we trace this franchise’s storied history, and discuss the various changes - both in-game and behind the scenes - that made this franchise one of the most fascinating epics in all of gaming.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

01:16 - God of War Retrospective

• First Era (Greek Mythology)

• • God of War (PS2) - 2005 (Dir. David Jaffe)
  • God of War II (PS2) - 2007 (Dir. Cory Barlog & David Jaffe)
  • God of War: Betrayal (Mobile) - 2007
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP) - 2008 (Ready at Dawn)
  • God of War Collection (PS3) - 2009 (Remastered Collection of God of War I & II, later ported to Vita in 2014)
  • God of War III (PS3) - 2010 (Dir. Stig Asmussen); Remastered on PS4 in 2015 
  • God of War: Ghost of Sparta (PSP) - 2010 (Ready at Dawn)
  • God of War: Origins Collection (PS3) - 2011 (Remastered Collection of PSP games)
  • God of War Saga - 2012 (Remastered Collection of God of War I, II & III, and digital codes for the PSP games)
  • God of War: Ascension (PS3) - 2013 (Dir. Todd Papy) (Prequel to entire series)
    

• Second Era (Norse Mythology)

• • God of War: A Call from the Wilds (text-based game playable through Facebook Messenger) - 2018
  • God of War (PS4, 2018) (Dir. Cory Barlog)
  • God of War Ragnarök (PS4, PS5) - 2022 (Dir. Eric Williams)

01:34:11 - Closing Thoughts / What’s Next on the Podcast

God of War: Ragnarok Celebration - Game Review, Part 1

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Eleven
God of War: Ragnarok Celebration - Game Review, Part 1

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we kick off our God of War: Ragnarok Celebration, which will span three episodes and feature a multi-part review of the game, as well as a complete retrospective of the God of War franchise. For this first episode, we discuss the early sections of the game, and offer our impressions of what’s changed, what has stayed the same, and how it feels to re-join Kratos and Atreus in the Nine Realms in an effort to avert Ragnarok. We will also go into very early story spoilers, but there will be a clear SPOILER WARNING to stop listening at that point if you aren’t as far along yet in your journey. PLUS: The latest video game news, Brandon’s Physical Games Corner, Rich’s Digital Picks, and more. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

019:01 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Remedy Announces Control 2
• Nintendo Switch IndieWorld Showcase Announcements
• More Drama Surrounding Disco Elysium Developer ZA/UM
• The Game Awards 2022 Award Nominees

58:05 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner

1:13:57 - Rich’s Digital Picks 

• Game Pass and GWG
• Playstation Plus
  
  

1:39:48 - God of War: Ragnarok Review (Part 1)

2:50:29 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

Episode Ten - The Top 10 Best Open-World Video Games

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Ten
The Top 10 Best Open-World Video Games

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we set out to create the next entry in our growing series of Top Ten lists, and this time we turn our attention to the most epic of all genres - Open-World Video Games. And the timing is certainly appropriate - this year, games like Elden Ring, Horizon: Forbidden West, Gotham Knights, and Sonic Frontiers have consumed much of the gaming discourse, and for good reason. Open-world games give players a sense of freedom, exploration and discovery that few (if any) genres can rival. The rules of the episode are simple: we each start the discussion with our own personal top ten lists, and by way of a (supposedly) mathematically-sound process, we combine our individual lists into one definitive TJOG Top Ten List.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

07:10 - The Top Ten Best Open-World Video Games

• Introduction
• Individual Top Tens
• The Merge and Tie-Breakers
• The Final List

1:56:35 - Closing Thoughts / Contact

Episode Nine - God of War: Ragnarok Hype, PSVR 2, Gotham Knights Review, Silent Hill 2

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Nine
God of War: Ragnarok Hype, PSVR 2, Gotham Knights Review, Silent Hill 2

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss the latest news and game releases here at the start of November, including the incredible anticipation for God of War: Ragnarok’s release, the release date and games announcement for Playstation VR 2, rumors surrounding Hideo Kojima’s next few games, what’s next for The Witcher franchise and more. Meanwhile, Rich has finished Gotham Knights and has some harsh criticisms (but also some surprising praise) for the divisive title, and Brandon is diving back into the original Silent Hill 2 in honor of the Halloween season. Plus: we cover the latest physical media announcements, the latest releases on Game Pass and PS Plus, and more.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

010:56 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• New Studio from Playstation and Naughty Dog
• EA Lands 3-Game deal with Marvel and Disney
• Rocksteady Games Co-Founders Leave the Studio
• Hideo Kojima News Block (Overdose, New Game = New Medium)
• Playstation VR 2 Release Date and Games List
• The Original The Witcher is Getting a Remake
• Cliff Bleszinski Releases ‘Control Freak’ (A Memoir)

1:06:56 - Brandon's Physical Games Corner

1:14:05 - Rich’s Digital Picks (Game Pass and PS Plus)

1:34:43 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Gotham Knights (Review)
• Silent Hill 2
• Five Dates

2:19:32 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

 

Episode Eight - Batman in Video Games Retrospective (Batman: The Video Game - Gotham Knights)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Eight
Batman in Video Games Retrospective (Batman: The Video Game - Gotham Knights)

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we look back at Batman’s history in video games, from the original NES game Batman: The Video Game (1989), up through the release  of Gotham Knights this past month. To do this, we follow the dark knight through a wide array of gaming adventures, including some super-high highs and some crushingly-low lows, but most notably, we discuss the Rocksteady Games (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knights), the LEGO Batman games, the NetherRealm games (like Injustice: Gods Among Us and MK vs. DC Universe), and Batman: The Telltale Series, to name a few. 

 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

013:52 - Batman in Video Games Retrospective

• Sunsoft Games

• • • Batman: The Video Game (NES, Sunsoft, 1990)
    • Batman: Return of the Joker (NES, Sunsoft, 1991)

• Batman the Animated Series

• • • The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES, 1994/Genesis, 1995)

• Licensed Games (Comics, Animated Series & Movies)

• LEGO Batman

• • • Lego Batman: The Video Game (2008)
    • Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012)
    • Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014)
    • Lego Dimensions (2015)
    • Lego DC Supervillains (2018)

• TelltaleGames

• • • Batman: The Telltale Series (2016)
    • Batman: The Enemy Within (2017-2018)

• NetherRealm Games

• • • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008)
    • Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013) / Injustice 2 (2017)

• Batman Arkham Series

• • • Arkham Asylum (2009)
    • Arkham City (2011) + Armored Edition (WiiU, 2012)
    • Arkham Origins (2013)
    • Arkham Origins: Blackgate (2013)
    • Arkham Knight (2015)
    • Batman: Arkham VR (2016)
    • Batman: Return to Arkham (2016)

• The Current Era

• • Gotham Knights (2022) & Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023)
    
    

1:19:26 Closing Thoughts

Episode Seven - Gotham Knights, Paradise Killer and Return to Monkey Island

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Seven
Gotham Knights, Paradise Killer and Return to Monkey Island

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss one of the biggest, most anticipated, and controversial game releases of the year - Gotham Knights - and give initial impressions after the first 6 hours. Is 30 FPS on consoles enough to ground this open-world action game to a halt? Will the just-announced 4-player mode make an impact post-launch? We bat-dive into the details and share some strong opinions. We also discuss Paradise Killer, the game that asks the question, “What if Ace Attorney…but with the imagination turned up to eleven”, and offer final thoughts on the recently-released and much-lauded Return to Monkey Island. PLUS: the most important new releases in physical media and on PS Plus and Game Pass, and the most interesting gaming news of the past few weeks. 

Show Notes:

00:10 - Introduction

05:08 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Hellena Taylor and the Bayonetta 3 Voice Actor Drama
• Resident Evil 4 and More at the RE Showcase
• Silent Hill 2 and the Silent Hill Transmission 
• Sony May Cancel its Playstation Showcase…Because of Xbox?!?

1:28:25 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical

1:40:46 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

2:00:02 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Return to Monkey Island
• Paradise Killer
• F.E.A.R. 2
• Gotham Knights

3:03:41 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

Episode Six - The Top 10 Best Stories in Video Games

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Six
The Top 10 Best Stories in Video Games

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we create our official TJOG Top 10 List of the best stories in video games, and along the way, explore the many unique ways that storytellers weave their tales of triumph, despair, joy and redemption through the games that we love to play. We also discuss recent video game news, the latest Physical Game releases from Limited Run, Special Reserve Games. Iam8bit, Super Rare Games and PlayAsia, all of the latest announcements for October’s Xbox Games With Gold, Game Pass and Playstation Plus lineups, and the games we’ve been playing lately, including The Quarry, Live A Live and Return to Monkey Island.  

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

08:37 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Google Finally Announces the End of Stadia
• US Labor Board Rules Against Activision Blizzard
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster for PS5 (rumor for now)
• First Trailer for Super Mario Bros. Movie

1:00:02 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical 

1:23:27 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:42:22 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Nobody Saves The World (Finished)
• The Quarry
• Live A Live (Finished)
• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (Trial)
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX
• Return to Monkey Island
  
  

2:15:38 Main Topic: The Top 10 Best Stories in Video Games

• Chapter 1: What Makes a Great Video Game Story?
• Chapter 2: Individual Picks for Best Stories
• Chapter 3: The Big Finish
• Chapter 4: Compromises Must Be Made
• Chapter 5: The Official List
  
  

4:13:12 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…